I'm not a morning person, and getting up before the sun felt odd, driving a 13 passenger van with a sea kayak sticking out the rear end felt odd, not starting a big day with a bowl of gruel felt odd, getting excited about having a fun day with amazing people did not feel odd.

Full-on. 7:30 a.m. is an early time to be firing up the V-8, Leland led the charge out of the gates with the 11k run from Science Works to Emigrant Lake. He had a strong run, left it all out on the course, and set Megan up for the paddle.

Smells. Like. Roses.

Out on the water Megan turned it up a notch, passed the two paddlers who entered the water before her, and by the end of the 3K paddle put the team in the lead. It was cool to watch from above as the race played out. Emigrant Lake was in fine form for the day.

Gave them a paddling. There could have had someone water-skiing off the back of her kayak.

After the 25 mile road bike through some rolling hills Leland helped me make a smooth transition to Sweet Melissa for the mountain bike leg. I managed to keep the lead Megan started, and it was all a matter of not being dismembered by a nearby Lithia Park L.A.R.P.E.R. or getting sucked into a black hole before I got to Johnny.

I wore my best unitard for this special date with Sweet Melissa. There was a lot of heavy breathing. A 9 mile loop on some Ashland gravel and trail.

The camera couldn't fit in all of Johnny's legs. Johnny ready for the hand-off and the final 5K charge to the finish line.

Johnny in full flight just before sealing the deal for our team victory! Check it out in the picture, even his shadow was having a hard time keeping up with him. And the T.V. camera capturing his turbo boost, if you have't watched the video clip linked at the beginning of the post then do it now, you'll see this moment in action.

You can try to fool the Godfather, and you might even succeed, but when the Godmothers are out for blood you better hope your name ain't on the list. Presenting the Siskiyou Challenge Team Champs: including the Godmothers in person! Huge mahalo to Krista and Amy who sponsored the team in every way and made it all possible for us to race.

Towards the end of the day, after a great post-race party at Science Works featuring great music, food, brews, massage, and smiles. Then trip to get some Team Backpacks, a swim in the reservoir, truffle treats, and maxin' on the porch. Thanks Team! It was worth every odd pre-dawn moment.

Congrats to all! Sounds like you had a tight crew. I should have known the later-in-the-day reports from other race competitors of the “really fast guy in a skin suit” were references to you. They had me wondering…

[…] Last year some friends and I represented as, “The Godmothers of Ashland”. A last minute team of some top-notch athletes, an amazing last minute connection for a rocket of a kayak, lead us to victory in the first edition. However, this year, Mr. Johnny “Means-Business” Means is in Portland helping my friend T-Payne buy a new bike, Megan “Evinrude” Jansen is volunteering, leaving both myself and Mr. Leland “Full-On” Fulton to defect to other teams. Hopefully either Leland’s team or mine can rally the win and continue the golden thread of victory to honor the Godmothers of Ashland, and someday see the team reunite for a future edition of the Challenge. […]